WORLD CHURCH Anguish in an Era of World Wars
Dec 17, 2015
Church lost secular power which enabled it to gain more moral and spiritual authority
Church rededicated itself to its mission of embodying Jesus in the world through teaching, preaching and ministering
Papacy gains moral stature Pope becomes a spokesperson for Catholicism
and moral advocates for the whole world
POPE PIUS X
Pastor Warm, gentle man Wanted to make the sacraments more
available to Catholics Wanted Mass and Eucharist to be close to
laypeople Lowered the Communion age to 7 Encouraged frequent reception of communion
POPE PIUS X
Encouraged a movement called Catholic Action Associations of laypersons doing charitable work
Catholics all over the world loved him
A WORLD GEARED FOR WAR, A CHURCH GEARED FOR PEACE
WWI began in 1914 New type of war
1. Fought on land, sea and air2. New technologies3. Entangled nations outside of Europe as well
A POPE AS ADVOCATE FOR PEACE
Pope Benedict XV Used diplomatic skills to try to end the war Condemned the war as unjustified (ignored) Gave away vast sums of money for relief Depleted Vatican treasury
THE AFTERMATH OF THE WAR: A TIME OF DISILLUSIONMENT
Germany surrendered in 1918 Millions lost their lives Harsh conditions placed on Germany with the
Treaty of Versailles would plant the seeds for WWII
POPE BENEDICT’S SUGGESTION
Warned the Allies not to humiliate Germany “Remember that nations do not die; humbled
and oppressed, they chafe under the yoke imposed on them, preparing a renewal of the combat, and passing down from generation to generation a mournful heritage of revenge.”
Benedict’s wisdom was ignored Germany’s economy broke down People were starving Citizens were humiliated Anger boiled
REFLECTION
Describe what most people think and feel while being humiliated.
How do they feel toward the person who is/has humiliated them?
How do they think and feel afterward?
“FREE YOURSELF FROM RELIGION”
Psychology-study of the mind Sigmund Freud
contribution to psychology was huge view of religion was biased and hostile
Religion was societies means to control people Religious faith childish at best-harmful at worst
GUILT: FREUD CONDEMNED UNHEALTHY GUILT
When can guilt be unhealthy or harmful? What would people be like if they never felt guilty
about their harmful actions? When is it a good thing to feel guilty? Freud seemed to think there were far too many
laws and rules that oppressed people. But can laws and rules be helpful in developing our identity and in keeping society a worthwhile place to live?
“WIN ALL YOU CAN”
Capitalism: “Get all you can while the getting is good.”
Darwinism: “Survival of the fittest” had been distorted into social Darwinism
A VISION OF JUSTICE FROM US BISHOPS
1919 wrote Program of Social Reconstruction Advocated
Wages Insurance through entire life Medical care
THINK
Do you think these standards are being met in the workplace today?
Should religious values enter into business decisions?
TOTALITARIANISM
A total all encompassing system that orders national unity through political ideology
All aspects of life are controlled by a single party
Control media and education
COMMUNISM
In a classless workers state, religion was unnecessary
Justice for poor, oppressed workers Happiness and justice were present in this
life No longer could practice Christian faith
PIUS XI Condemned the errors of communism Communism was unacceptable because it
was totalitarian and atheistic Response to Fascism in Italy was complicated
Lateran Treaty Quadragesimo Anno: criticized the absolutist
state Diplomatic skills Wrote a letter to German Catholics
condemning Nazi brainwashing
WRITE ON LOOSE LEAF:
Should the pope criticize governments? Explain.
Your response should be in complete sentences and approximately 1/2 page to one full page in length.
COOPERATION OF CHRISTIANS
Remained silent German Catholics endorsed Nazis Trade unions Schools taught party line Nazi’s destroyed church organizations and
the Catholic press
WORLD WAR II
1939-1945 Hitler turned sites outside of Germany Japan joined Germany and Italy U.S. joined in 1941 after Pearl Harbor
POPE PIUS XII
Feared that speaking out would endanger Catholics
Remained neutral 400,000 Jews Felt they couldn’t stop Hitler Seen as a hero after war
CATHOLIC RESISTANCE
Franz Jaegestaetter Corrie ten Boom Edith Stein Maximilian Kolbe Bishops and others spoke out Nazis persecuted lower ranks
THE COLD WAR AND ARMS RACE
USSR vs. US Nuclear arms race: creating the biggest and
most destructive MAD kept the countries from using them on
one another 1965 Vatican II condemned the use of
weapons of mass destruction
COMMUNIST PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH In the USSR and Eastern Europe
Persecution of the Church increased Pg. 296 strategies against the church Write a paragraph reflection explaining how you
see some of these same strategies used against the church today
In China Mao stressed need for Chinese nationalism and
destruction of all that was foreign and corrupt Eventually Catholic worship would be permitted
PIUS XII
Confronted communism Excommunicated Catholics involved in
communist activity Denounce persecution of the church Encouraged efforts to resist
ON THE EVE OF CHANGE
Pius XII Two encyclicals
Scriptures: approved modern scientific and historical methods for interpreting the scriptures
Mystical Body of Christ: emphasizing the importance of all members of the church
Movement toward early Church liturgy
CONCLUSIONS
Church had to constantly discern what the vision of Jesus would be in the midst of conflict